The Department of Energy has named a new federal project director and assistant manager for the Hanford Site Waste Treatment Plant as the $17 billion project moves into a new phase. Tom Fletcher, now deputy manager of DOE’s Hanford Richland Operations Office, will move to the DOE Hanford Office of River Protection to take the position effective March 18.
“The WTP is one of the Department’s largest and most complex projects, and it is moving into a new phase with an increasing emphasis on startup and commissioning to prepare for the initiation of waste treatment trough the direct feed low activity waste (DFLAW) approach,” said an announcement Wednesday to DOE employees at Hanford. It was signed by Doug Shoop, manager of the Richland Operations Office, and Brain Vance, manager of the Office of River Protection.
Fletcher will be the top-ranking DOE official at Hanford assigned exclusively to the vitrification plant. He has experience at the vitrification plant, previously serving as the DOE assistant manager for startup, commissioning, and integration on the project. He has more than 20 years of experience managing projects involving nuclear operations, construction, deactivation and demolition, and environmental management. Fletcher has been at Hanford since 2006.
The deputy manager position will be competed.
William “Bill” Hamel has served as DOE’s assistant manager for the vitrification plant for five years. He saw the project through much of the technical issue resolution, implementation of the Direct Feed Low-Activity Waste approach, and completion of design for the DFLAW portions of the plant. He has accepted a position at the Richland Operations Office as the assistant manager for safety and environment effective March 18. The position had been vacant for some time, with Brian Stickney serving in an acting capacity.
